I have for some time now wanted a semi auto hunting rifle but I have had bad luck with Browning and Remington always has had issues with their auto loaders, so I just kind of put that on the back burner. Well Benelli has the R1 out now and it has grabbed my attention, does anyone have one of these rifles? If so what can you tell me about their quality, reliability, and accuracy. All I know about them is what the gun mags have said and I don't trust sources with an agenda.

Txhillbilly

05-23-2013 05:00 AM

I've sighted in a R1 300WM for a guy at the range,he didn't have a clue!
It was a nice rifle,but about the same as a Browning BAR.
Have you thought about a M1A or a Garand,they make excellent hunting rifles and aren't much more than the R1.

Apex-Predator

05-23-2013 03:11 PM

Yeah but they weight so much more, I don't want to be lugging around a monster when trying to hog hunt.

nchunt101

05-23-2013 03:25 PM

They are really nice well built rifles IMHO and recoil in non existent.

locutus

05-25-2013 03:18 AM

What problems did you have with Browning???

Apex-Predator

05-25-2013 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locutus
(Post 1257423)

What problems did you have with Browning???

The one and only Browning I have ever owned (A-Bolt II 7mm-08) gave me absolute fits trying to get it to group, factory ammo ALL shot really bad grapefruit-bowling ball sized groups, handloads with all the common powders gave 3-4" and after months of trying I finally started to get it dialed in with H380 and Big Game. I have it shooting great now but it was by far the hardest rifle I have ever worked with, my Savage Tikka and Winchester all went sub MOA first time out with at leased one load the Browning took almost a dozen trips to the range!

locutus

05-25-2013 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex-Predator
(Post 1257599)

The one and only Browning I have ever owned (A-Bolt II 7mm-08) gave me absolute fits trying to get it to group, factory ammo ALL shot really bad grapefruit-bowling ball sized groups, handloads with all the common powders gave 3-4" and after months of trying I finally started to get it dialed in with H380 and Big Game. I have it shooting great now but it was by far the hardest rifle I have ever worked with, my Savage Tikka and Winchester all went sub MOA first time out with at leased one load the Browning took almost a dozen trips to the range!

The reason I asked, was that I have a Browning BAR ll in .338 WinMag. It will shoot my hand loads (200 grain Nosler BT and 250 Hornady SP) into one inch all day long, and recoil is like a .270.

For the last 25+ years, I've used a .30-06 for everything, but in my misspent youth I was bitten by the "macho" bug and had to have a "Belchfire" Magnum.:p

I'd probably still hunt with it if it was in .30-06 or .270.:)

OTOH, the older I get the more I appreciate my Model 70 Featherweight.:)

Apex-Predator

05-25-2013 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locutus
(Post 1257791)

OTOH, the older I get the more I appreciate my Model 70 Featherweight.:)

Yep I have one of those too :) great rifle, rivals my Tikka for my favorite rifle.